For nearly a month, the Grant family in suburban Seattle kept hearing strange scratching sounds at night. At first, they assumed it was just mice or squirrels. But the sounds became more frequent, always around 2 a.m., leaving the family restless and increasingly uneasy.

One sleepless night, Mr. Grant decided to climb into the attic. There, amid dust and old insulation, he discovered something that stopped him cold: a skinny mother cat curled up with three newborn kittens.

The cat had apparently snuck in through a damaged vent weeks ago. She found a hidden corner to give birth, surviving silently above them. The nightly scratching was her desperate search for food or comfort.

Shocked and heartbroken, the Grants took her and her kittens to the vet. Thankfully, all were malnourished but recoverable. The family named the mom Echo and vowed to help.

Over the next few weeks, Echo regained her strength, and the kittens began to explore. Eventually, loving homes were found for the little ones — but Echo stayed. She had chosen them, and they had chosen her.

Sometimes, all it takes is listening closely. Even the softest sounds can lead to life-changing discoveries.